Himachal govt to provide 'nautor land' to landless tribals

Hailing the recent High Court verdict granting right to inherit ancestral property to tribal women in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Virbhadra Sigh today said that the landless younger siblings in the community would be allotted 'nautor land'.
Singh said that the decision would benefit the tribal landless people of Kinnaur, Lahaul, Spiti and Pangi regions of the state.
"The landless and the younger siblings in tribal areas of Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur would be given 'Nautor' land within six months," he said at the 44th meeting of Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) here today.
'Nautor Land' means the right to utilize, with the sanction of the competent authority waste land owned by the government outside the towns, reserved and demarcated protected forests and outside such other areas as may be notified from time to time by the state government.

The Chief Minister said that as per age old traditions in Lahaul and Spiti, there was a Bara Ghar (house of elder brother) and Chotta Ghar (that of younger brother) and the eldest son inherited the property, whereas the siblings either joined the monastery or nunneries or work as labourers or open small shops for a living.
"I am strongly of the opinion that this age-old tradition must change," he said, while issuing directions to formulate a policy within six months so that all younger siblings get their share.

He said that large number of cases were coming to his office for providing land to landless, especially in Spiti area.

Taking cognizance of the inordinate delay in laying 66 KV electricity line up to Kaza and Losar, the Chief Minister suggested holding of a meeting under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary and asked the concerned authority to submit a report at the earliest.
He also promised people to look into the power cuts in Killar in Pangi valley and told the concerned officials to submit a report within 15 days.
Singh also asked for details of the work along with reports on the financial and physical targets under Local Area Development Authority (LADA) in Kinnaur district within ten days.

The Chief Minister called for filling up the vacant posts of doctors and para-medical staff in tribal areas within two months and dispatch of consignment of essential Ayurvedic, Homoeopathic and Allopathic drugs before September or October.
Singh also took a serious view of non filling of posts of teachers of all categories by the education department in various schools in tribal areas, particularly Lahaul and Bharmour-Pangi area.
An amount of Rs 984.53 crores is being spent for development in the tribal areas during 2015-16. Rs 47.36 crore was being spent on construction of roads, bridges, buildings and Rs 68.01 crore in education and health sectors, he added.